Toxic Ingredients in Feminine Hygiene Products

The issue of safe feminine hygiene product options is rarely discussed, but it’s an important topic for roughly a third of the population.

Why? Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and also the thinnest. Less than one-tenth of an inch separates your body from potential toxins. Worse yet, your skin is highly permeable — especially the skin in and around the vaginal area.

Anything coming in constant contact with your skin will land in your bloodstream for distribution throughout your body. This is why I’m so fond of saying “Don’t put anything on your body that you wouldn’t eat if you had to.”

Chemicals on your skin may be worse than eating them. At least enzymes in your saliva and stomach help break down and flush chemicals from your body. But when they touch your skin, they’re absorbed straight into your bloodstream, going directly to your delicate organs. Once in your body, they can accumulate because you typically lack the necessary enzymes to break them down.

In my opinion, feminine hygiene products can be likened to a “ticking time bomb” due to years of exposure. The average American woman uses 16,800 tampons in her lifetime — or up to 24,360 if she’s on estrogen replacement therapy.

And that’s just tampons. Many women use different types of sanitary pads, alone or with tampons, and there’s also nursing pads.

What‘s Really in Those Sanitary Pads and Tampons?

In the featured article, Andrea Donsky, founder of Naturally Savvy and co-author of Label Lessons: Your Guide to a Healthy Shopping Cart, reveals how little we’re told about the materials in feminine products. In fact, tampon and sanitary pad manufacturers aren’t required to disclose ingredients because feminine hygiene products are considered “medical devices.”

When Andrea called Procter & Gamble directly to discover the contents in their Always Infinity pads, the service reps could only mention two: foam and a patented ingredient called Infinicel — a highly absorbent material able to hold up to 10 times its weight.

This video demonstrates what happens when an organic versus conventional sanitary pad is burned. The 100% organic cotton pad, made by Natracare, burns slow and clean, leaving virtually no sooty residue. But the Always Infinity pad with its mostly undisclosed ingredients, creates black smoke and thick residue, indicating the pad may contain dioxins, synthetic fibers and petrochemical additives.

In fact, conventional sanitary pads can contain the equivalent of about four plastic bags! With everything we now know about the hazardous nature of plastic chemicals, this alone is cause for concern.

For example, plasticizing chemicals like BPA and BPS disrupt embryonic development. They’re linked to heart disease and cancer. Phthalates, which give paper tampon applicators a smooth finish, are known to dysregulate gene expression, and DEHP may lead to multiple organ damage. Synthetics and plastic restrict air flow and trap heat and dampness, potentially promoting yeast and bacteria growth in your vaginal area. Besides crude oil plastics, conventional sanitary pads can also contain other potentially hazardous ingredients, such as odor neutralizers and fragrances.

The Price You Pay for ‘Clean‘ White Tampons and Pads

How do tampons and pads get that ultra-white “clean” look? Usually chlorine bleach, which can create toxic dioxin and other disinfection-by-products (DBPs) such as trihalomethane. Studies show dioxin collects in your fatty tissues. According to an EPA draft report, dioxin is a serious public health threat that has no “safe” level of exposure! Published reports show that even trace dioxin levels may be linked to:

Abnormal tissue growth in the abdomen and reproductive organs

Abnormal cell growth throughout the body

Immune system suppression

Hormonal and endocrine system disruption

Meanwhile, the FDA’s official stance is that no expected health risks are associated with trace amounts of dioxins in tampons.

Naturally Savvy notes that 10 years ago, House Representative Carolyn Maloney introduced legislation requiring research into the potential health risks of feminine hygiene product use, including cervical, ovary and breast cancers and endometriosis. Unfortunately, the legislation failed to pass, and it doesn’t appear there’s been any research.

Could You Be Absorbing GMOs Via Your Tampons?

Numerous alarm bells went off for Andrea as she researched potential hazards of feminine products for her book, Label Lessons, such as:

Andrea wondered whether if using a GMO tampon several times every month was any different than ingesting GMO food. But it may even be worse, considering the vaginal wall is highly permeable, allowing toxins like pesticide residue and GMO proteins direct access into the bloodstream.

Beware of Toxic Shock Syndrome

Remember: Tampons create a favorable environment for bacteria growth. Micro-tears in the vaginal wall from tampons allow bacteria to accumulate. One infamous risk is Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), caused either by poisonous toxins from Staphylococcus aureus (staph) or group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria. TSS is a life-threatening condition, so symptom recognition is crucial. Should any of the following symptoms occur during your tampon use, seek medical help immediately:

Fortunately, there are safer alternatives. Since the FDA regulates tampon absorbency, all tampons on the market must meet absorption guidelines. According to Dr. Philip Tierno, a Clinical Professor of Microbiology and Pathology at NYU Medical Centre, 100% cotton tampons must “consistently test under detectable levels for TSS toxins.” Based on her own research, Andrea recommends the following brands of tampons and sanitary pads.

Natracare

Diva Cup

Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Organic Cotton Tampons

Glad Rags Organic Pads

Organyc 100% Organic Cotton Tampons

I’ve also created an exclusive line of organic cotton feminine hygiene products, which you can find in my online store.

I don't like saying this, yet it is the truth, if this involved a mans body you can BET the FDA would have it's Arse on the chopping block, Still to this day the issue of a woman's menstruation cycle is such a "Taboo" subject and a topic that can clear every man in a room out. I remember when the Male "Birth Control Pill" hit the test market, it was pulled because of dangerous side effects, side effects that were over 50% less dangerous than birth control for women. That's when I truly understood just how unfair and unimportant woman are. Still to this day we are still oppressed, one of the few places I felt equal was in combat strange but true the only time I was equal was when it came down to life or death...I'm sorry but that needs to change.

Would this be a good argument in favor of having a hysterectomy? I've been trying for years to get my doctor to take it out, but he says I'm not having any problems, so I need my uterus. Would 'cancer prevention' be a good excuse? For some reason I don't think he'll buy it. Very informative article. Thank you for posting.